[para-Aminobenzoic acid as a sole source of carbon and energy for Pseudomonas desmoliticum]

A strain of Psuedomonas desmoliticum has been isolated from soil. It utilizes, as a source of carbon and energy, p-aminobenozic (PABA), p-fluorobenzoic acids, and some other aromatic compounds. The strain has been isolated by inoculating soil suspensions onto Petri plates with a solid mineral medium containing 0.1% PABA as a carbon source. The preparatory metabolism of PABA was studied in this work; p-hydroxybenzoic and protocatechuic acids were found to be its intermediate products. Enzyme systems catalysing oxidation of aromatic compounds and glucose are inducible.